MARK Robins felt Coventry City allowed weekend opponents Swansea City ‘the freedom of Coventry’ as the Sky Blues slipped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat.
After pushing Premier League Tottenham Hotspur all the way in the Carabao Cup in their last outing, Robins named an unchanged side for the Swansea clash at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
However, after Liam Cullen and Oli Cooper put Swansea in command just past the half-hour mark, Robins admits he learnt a valuable lesson about his side following a costly lacklustre start to the game.
Robins said: “It was frustrating. It was nothing like us, we didn’t start the game. I wanted to keep the same team because we were so good for 84 minutes the other night.
“That teaches me a lesson and gives me a kick up the backside, because I can’t do that, and they have proved I can’t do that and they can’t do that.
“There were clear instructions for them to follow and they didn’t do it, for whatever reason they didn’t do it.
“We allowed them to have the freedom of Coventry. They score two goals and that was totally unlike us.”
An own goal from Ronald kept City in the contest but Coventry were unable to find an equalise to leave the Sky Blues just two points above the Championship relegation zone.
And while Robins took responsibility for the defeat, he felt his side made it too easy for the visitors on a frustrating afternoon.
Robins added: “No excuses from me, it wasn’t good enough. From Wednesday to now, the difference in the performance level is huge.
“Really disappointed and I will take it on the chin and get on with it.
“It can’t be physical tiredness. Physical tiredness manifests itself when you’re just a little bit late or you can’t quite get there, but we didn’t even get there because we didn’t even go.
“We didn’t say once we were going to sit off and be passive and let them have the freedom of Coventry and that was the case in the first half before we got going and realised there was a game.
“We didn’t expose their weaknesses at all at any stage. It’s really frustrating, but like I say, I take responsibility for everything at the club, it was too easy and it’s not something I’ve said before.”
Coventry travel to Leeds United on Saturday, September 28 with kick-off at 3pm at Elland Road.
